As a floral designer, I’m always on the lookout for the next big trend. What have you seen at recent weddings? Share your comments and photos below – I love the challenge of staying current with the tastes of today’s brides.
Country ceremony using the Bride's tin pails
The month of June always brings to mind weddings. It stills ranks first in popularity in the US, followed by Aug. Sept and October. Here in Concord, Ma. October has been my biggest wedding month for the past several years. I can only speculate that the stunning fall foliage in New England has something to do with that.
When I was first a florist, way back in the 80’s, June Bride’s were the norm, and almost all Bridal Bouquets were white cascades of roses, stephanotis, mini carnations and ivy. Through the years, as more flowers became available year round, the choices varied, but until about 1998-2000, most brides still favored white cascades.
For the past 12 years or so, the hand tied round full bouquet has been the favorite and brides are much more interested in adding color to their bouquets. Lately though, I’ve seen an increased interest in cascades, but with a modern twist. No longer are they as stiff and formal as the cascades of the 80’s, and they are seldom all white. As a floral designer, I’m always on the look out for the next big trend and I love the challenge of staying current with the tastes of today’s brides.
Today's brides love color and texture
Engaged couples usually come in for their first consultation with some idea of the look they’re going for and many times, pictures from various web searches. We find that very helpful to get a feel for their tastes and preferences and can use these ideas as a starting point. Even if the flower budget doesn’t allow for an exact duplicate of the bride’s dream wedding, we can make suitable suggestions that will capture the essence with out breaking the bank.
This brooch belonged to the bride's grandmother
Some of the most memorable weddings we’ve designed flowers for have been personalized with things meaningful to the bride and groom. One such wedding that stands out was that of two English Majors who wanted to use a collection of old books as centerpieces, topped with small vases of organic herbs and flowers. The year before, that bride’s sister had us use her collection of vintage milk glass for her wedding centerpieces. We’ve also used antique bottle collections, spatterware, sea shells, and any number of special requests that made for a one of a kind event, including an antique brooch that belonged to a bride’s grandmother.
Have you ever been to a wedding that perfectly reflected the couple’s personality? What made the wedding stand out from every other wedding you’ve been to? Maybe it was the food, the music, or the venue, but I’m betting it was the flowers!
